How The Bachelorette's Lee broke the rules to be with Georgia

How are you feeling today? Is it hard knowing that Georgia is coping with her mum’s illness?

It’s really put things into perspective, and shown what’s important. To be honest, I wasn’t going to let any of this get in the way of being there for the person I love in their time of need. In fact, in the last week I’ve had a couple of catch-ups with Georgia. Last week it got to the point where I thought, this is ridiculous. I called Channel Ten and I said, “I’m not asking. I’m telling you that this is going to happen. I’m going to see Georgia, I’m going to see her mother. With or without you.” And they were amazing. Because this is a time when I want to be there most, and it has reiterated how badly I want to be her rock. It’s awful. It’s a terrible and difficult situation.

Obviously, her mum was too ill to come to Singapore. When was the first time that you and Belinda did meet?

I met Belinda last week. And it was beautiful. I can certainly see where Georgia gets her strength and her sense of humour. We had a chat, and she had a couple of questions for me. It was really cute: I walked in there, she called me over and she said, “I didn’t think Georgia was going to pick you!” And I kind of reared back, like… whoa! And she said, “No, no, no. You were my favourite. And Georgia never picks my favourite of the boys I want for her.” It meant so much to me.

How much, if at all, are you following social media or audience response to last night’s episode?

To be honest, I have not even had a chance to look at it. I do understand there are people who are upset Matty wasn’t there in the end. That’s understandable. People will be Team Matty, people will be Team Lee. But I’ve been overwhelmed by the positive response from people, the feedback, the reactions, the well wishes, the messages.

We featured you in a recent issue of WHO and you opened up about your past with childhood bullying. And you mentioned a young girl who asked you to her Year 12 formal, and how badly you wanted to get in touch with her. Have you had a chance?

I actually did. Channel Ten let me. She sent me a message earlier this week. It was her birthday, and it was so beautiful. She said I can’t believe you replied to me, it’s my birthday and it’s made my day. It meant so much. And I got so many messages on the back of that article, so many thank you notes from mothers who had shown their children who were going through similar issues at school. Sometimes parents tell you it will be all right and as a kid, you think to yourself: well, what do you know? So this was something relatable for them to see and read. I got so many messages from people I’d never met before. It’s been great.

Aside from the past couple of weeks, had you seen Georgia at all post-Singapore?

We had two other rendezvous, very covert operations! [Laughs] It wasn’t stressful, in fact I laughed at the novelty of it all. They were these cheeky getaway weekends, being picked up by these security companies with security guards, and driven out to these remote locations. I have no idea how they even found them. We were basically dropped in and left to fend for ourselves for a couple of days. We basically just drank wine until the sun came up. It was incredible.

Courtesy of Network Ten

Watching it all back, what do you wish we had seen more of? And less?

I definitely wish they had shown less of my singing! But you know, I knew I was awful. Let’s just own it. And I understand it’s a TV program, but my mum took it hard that ours was such a short one. I just had to reiterate to her that it was because we had such an amazing day. There was no drama. It was great for us, but it wasn’t great for television!

And what about Katie? Have you talked since Singapore?

I definitely have. I’ve seen her, I’ve spoken to her and she’s most certainly Team Lee now. We knew that was coming. That was a difficult position to be put in—this guy she’s never met before just comes in and tells her he’s got feelings for her sister. I’d be disappointed if she wasn’t so protective of her. Georgia has been hurt in the past and she just had her back. She knows now that I was genuine. I could not be crazier about her sister.

Somebody online said that Katie struck them as “somebody who asks to see the manager. A lot.”

[Laughs] I love that! Oh, I have to tell Georgia that one. That’s brilliant.

Have you talked to Matty J?

Not since last night. Obviously, a few of us boys who went through a lot together. We were mates in the house, and there’s no reasons for us to not still be. But we’re not going to be talking every day. Out of respect for Georgia, I’m not going out and catching up with the guys. I will stay in touch. And I grew very close to Cam in the house. We found solace in each other, and he’s Australia’s biggest sweetheart. So I do talk to him a lot.

So what does the future look like for yourself and Georgia? What have you got planned?

Obviously her mum is at the forefront and it’s all we’re concentrating on right now. I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know what the future holds. But I do know that as long as Georgia is beside me, we can take on the world. We’ve talked about traveling. I want to do everything and nothing with her. I want to see the world but I also want to sleep in with her on a Sunday, have breakfast in bed, take a walk to get coffee. As long as it’s the two of us, I’m happy.